But Fergie's not talking about a north-south social or economic divide, rather it's a warning to Mourinho that Chelsea's title charge could find itself derailed when they start having to play more norrhern sides in the New Year.

Ferguson's a past-master of psychological games when it comes to upping the pressure in the Premiership title race and it's no surprise that Mourinho rather than his traditional target, Arsene Wenger, should be attracting his attention now that the west London side are five points clear at the top of the Premiership.

Fergie's basing his warning to the west London millionaires on the fact that they only been further north than Birmingham twice this season, and on one of this occasions, a visit to derby rivals Manchester City, lost their only game of the season.

Predictive powers

And Fergie's also backing his own Mystic Meg powers of being able to predict exactly when sides will start to slip-up.

"I always think the league starts on New Year's Day and I always write down the fixture programme of competitors.

"It's amazing how accurate I am where points will be dropped and points won.

" I haven't done this season's yet, but I look at us and we have been to some awkward places.

"We've been to Blackburn, Newcastle, and Bolton.

"And we've been to Chelsea. But Chelsea will find it difficult coming north to get points."